Wants & Needs in the new workplace

?Over decades the working office has gone through several evolution's, early two thousand saw the death of cubicle farms and the rise of open floor plans, and 2015 brought waves of ping pong and football tables to offices everywhere. While office trends come and go, one thing that does not change is the impact that the office environment has on employee health and well-being.

A quality workspace design leads to a less stressful and more productive atmosphere. It is essential that employers take the physical work environment of their employees into consideration. Employees need to feel comfortable and calm in their physical work settings to produce their best work. Post COVID employees also want to work in a healthy and cleaner environment.

A growing need for privacy in the workplace is also emerging though phone booths, a sound-proofed, ventilated, powered booth that can give employees a place to take a video call or get some uninterrupted time to focus on work.

We spend almost a third of our lives in the office, and to attract and retain talent, it is essential for companies to foster an environment that empowers people with the right space to work, think and collaborate naturally. Almost seventy percent of offices today are open plan, and the open plan layout can be fantastic. But it really needs to be implemented correctly with employee productivity and happiness in mind. From offering private rooms to take a call and quiet spaces for meditation to fun, comfortable areas that foster collaboration, it is imperative to think about building office spaces with different environments to maximize employee wellbeing.

At AMH, we are setting a new standard for the workplace, and we believe that our design led solutions are the perfect starting place for teams of all sizes, creating happier, healthier, and a more productive work environment.

Office design is such a valuable business investment, a workplace design that considers air quality, lighting, views onto nature and the general layout of the interior can significantly impact on health, satisfaction, wellbeing, and staff productivity.

Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Fitness, Comfort and Mind. Even if you have no immediate plans (or the budget) you can still utilise the principles to help create a healthier environment.

The quality of air within an office can have a significant impact on your employees’ health and in turn productivity. Surveys suggest an 10% increase in productivity because of increased fresh air to the workstation and a reduction in pollutants.

• Develop green cleaning protocols and keep office clutter-free
• Install air filtration systems
• Maintain a healthy level of humidity
• Add some office plants
• Open windows

Water consumption helps improve sleep quality and energy levels, as well as our ability to focus, our clarity of mind, and our awareness and alertness. This, in turn, helps us become more productive at work.

• Provide safe drinking water
• Install a water cooler
• Educate employees about the benefits of drinking water

We have all heard the saying “you are what you eat," and this saying might be especially true in the workplace. What your employees eat?at the office impacts on the day. If you want your employees to feel energized, focused, and productive, you will want them eating a nutritious, balanced diet that supplies them with the nourishment their bodies need to succeed.?Encourage better eating habits and food culture.

• Improve the availability of fresh fruit and vegetables
• Limit access to processed foods
• Label food clearly for food allergies
• Improve access to good hand washing facilities
• Make nutritional information available
• Promote healthy food options over advertising unhealthy ones
• Foster mindful eating – create dedicated eating spaces

Employees seated within ten feet of a window report reductions in eyestrain, headaches, and blurred vision symptoms. Consider adding skylights

• Control glare
• Maximize natural lighting
• Move big, bulky furniture that blocks sunlight?
• Replace flickering lights
• Layer distinct types of lighting in a workspace, such as ambient and task lighting

Our bodies were made to move, not sit all day. Employees who lead an active lifestyle are likely to be more productive. Because exercise increases the blood flow to the brain, employees will get a boost of energy and alertness. This can also sharpen their concentration and decision-making skill.

• Open and accessible stairways
• Shower facilities
• Bicycle storage
• Adjustable workstations
• Space for physical activity

The office should be a place of comfort. The use of correct ergonomics can lessen muscle fatigue, increase productivity, and reduce the severity of musculoskeletal disorders, which are the most frequently cited causes of lost work time.

• Ergonomically crafted work areas with the ability to alternate from sitting to standing positions
• Provide employees with different areas to work during their day
• Limit sound from building systems and create quiet zones
• Create breakout areas, hot desking and informal meeting areas, and creative spaces for brainstorming

Biophilic Design in the workplace?showed that people who work in spaces with natural features reported higher levels of overall wellbeing, expressing feeling more productive more creative at work. If the interior design of an office considers the occupants such as creating both breakout space and social space, improvements are found in concentration, collaboration, confidentiality, and creativity. Creating collaborative spaces, as well as areas to relax and de-stress is essential

• Add?greenery, potted plants, living walls or flower gardens
• Design outdoor spaces (rooftop patio or staff garden)
• Offer flexibility - give options for where and how employees want to work

Workplace design positively influences health,?wellbeing, employee satisfaction, and performance.?There is immense potential for improving and making a positive impact on employee wellbeing through human-centred design. By simply offering employees areas to recharge and taking their comfort into consideration, you can easily make subtle changes to improve the physical environment at your office.